Diabetes - Diet

Diabetes - Diet: Recommendations

Reduce the amount of dietary fat. The current American Diabetes association guidelines advise that less than 7-10% of calories should come from saturated fat. These are the fats that raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol should be less than 200-300 mg per day. Additionally, intake of trans-unsaturated fats should be minimized. These are better known as partially hydrogenated oils. Reducing fat intake may help contribute to modest weight loss.

Keep protein intake in the range of 15-20% of total calories. Choices low in fat are recommended such as nonfat dairy products, legumes, skinless poultry, fish and lean meats. To keep the cholesterol content in range, approximately 6 ounces of protein per day is recommended. This is about the size of 2 decks of cards.

Carbohydrate choices should come from whole grains breads, cereals, pasta, brown rice, beans, fruits and vegetables. Increasing dietary fiber is a general guideline for the entire population rather than specifically for people with diabetes. Portions and type of carbohydrate affect calories and is reflected by weight and blood glucose control. Learning to read labels for total carbohydrate rather than sugar provides the best information for blood sugar control.

Limit sources of high calorie and low nutritional value foods, including those with a high content of sugars. Sugar-containing foods should be substituted for other carbohydrate sources (such as potatoes) instead of just adding them on to the meal.

A registered dietitian can help you best decide how to balance your diet with carbohydrates, protein and fat.